"It was a new team every day, and I just got whacked in the head," he said. "I wasted too much energy thinking about that stuff. Now it's if it happens, it happens.

"I like Pittsburgh and there is a corps of guys that I'm very, very close to. But, obviously, you play this game to make the playoffs and go to the next level. I've been fortunate to be in one World Series [with San Diego in 1998] and I want to get back."

Vander Wal's best chance to do that might be with the Central Division-leading Cubs, who are seeking a left-handed bat for the stretch run.

The Cubs are believed to be more interested in acquiring Cincinnati's Dmitri Young, who is younger, can play third base and is viewed as a better hitter. Vander Wal hit .356 in April but struggled in May (.259) and June (.225) before rebounding in July (.333).

"You can't waste energy on things you can't control, and I'm not going to do that anymore," Vander Wal said. "I did that in June. You think about where you're going to get traded to, then you think about your family and two kids. I live in Grand Rapids, so if I moved to Chicago, it would be simple."

What makes Vander Wal even more attractive for the Cubs is that he's under contract for next season at $1.8 million. Aside from being able to play both corner outfield spots and first base, Vander Wal ranks sixth all time with 116 pinch hits and is tied for third with 16 pinch-homers.

Vander Wal was primarily a bench player from 1994 to 1997 in Colorado for manager Don Baylor, who still speaks highly of him.

"I'm happy for `Groove' that it's going well the second time around," Vander Wal said.

No breather: Sammy Sosa went hitless in four tries Wednesday and is 3-for-24 in his last seven games. He has been swinging uncharacteristically at pitches out of the strike zone.

"Sammy probably is trying to do a little too much right now," Ricky Gutierrez said. "With the way they're pitching him, he's expanding the strike zone."

Baylor said Sosa appears fatigued from participating in All-Star festivities in Seattle last week.

"He had no All-Star break," Baylor said. "After [Tuesday's] game he said he was a little tired. But it takes a good night's sleep to solve all that."

So would Baylor give Sosa the night off Thursday to rest him before the Cubs' four-game series at Houston?

"Nope," Baylor said. "He wouldn't let me. I have to have his bat in the lineup."

Slow going: Minnesota signed catcher Joe Mauer, the first overall pick in the draft, to a $5.1 million deal. That may accelerate the Cubs' negotiations with their first-round pick, right-hander Mark Prior, who was taken second overall.

"I know there's a number out there now," Baylor said. "But to say [Prior would] be on this club this year, that would be foolish."

More for Machado: With catcher Joe Girardi's back continuing to give him problems, Baylor said he would cut down the veteran's workload, starting him "every third or fourth day." That means more playing time for Robert Machado.

Todd Hundley is batting just .115 (3-for-26) with two homers and 16 strikeouts in a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa, and the team plans to keep him there for at least four more days.